Days after latest BPI figures showed that the total number of albums sold in the 12 month period ending September were the highest on record, sales in the run-up to Christmas 2004 continue to provide cause for concern, writes Alan Jones.

Although the total number of albums sold last week, according to OCC data, was 4,770,616 - the highest tally of the year and a 19.2% increase week-on-week - it was 12.4% below the same week last year, when 5,448,565 ...